BirdLife Australia
Australia's national bird-conservation organisation, combining scientific research, citizen monitoring, habitat protection, advocacy and community action.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
BirdLife Australia is an Australian bird-conservation charity and the national partner of BirdLife International. It works through a membership and volunteer network to protect native birds and the habitats on which they depend. Its activities combine ornithological research, citizen science, conservation planning, land management, threatened-species recovery, public education, policy advocacy and partnerships with governments, communities, landholders and businesses. The organisation began operating on 1 January 2012 after Birds Australia and Bird Observation and Conservation Australia (BOCA) approved a merger at simultaneous annual general meetings on 21 May 2011. The merger created a single national organisation from two established conservation bodies and transferred to BirdLife Australia the role of Australian national partner for BirdLife International, previously held by Birds Australia. Its constitution was drafted in 2011 and revised in 2014. The organisation is member-based, with directors elected by members and provisions allowing the board to co-opt directors with complementary skills while retaining member voting rights. BirdLife Australia's scope extends well beyond recreational birdwatching. Its principal conservation programs address woodland birds, migratory shorebirds, beach-nesting birds, threatened mallee birds, birds on farms, urban birds, Key Biodiversity Areas and emergency interventions for species at high risk of extinction. Programs generally use long-term conservation action planning to connect evidence gathering with habitat restoration, monitoring, policy work and community participation. The organisation owns or manages conservation properties including Gluepot Reserve in South Australia's mallee region and Clarkesdale Bird Sanctuary near Ballarat, and leases the Broome and Eyre bird observatories in Western Australia. Research and monitoring are central to its public identity. The Atlas of Australian Birds, established by Birds Australia in 1977, developed a national base of structured bird observations. Its successor data systems, including Birdata and the Aussie Bird Count, enable volunteers to submit observations through online and mobile tools. These records contribute to conservation program design, the Threatened Bird Index, State of Australia's Birds reporting, Key Biodiversity Area monitoring, threatened-species assessments and responses to events such as the 2019–20 bushfires. BirdLife Australia also maintains a national network of more than 30 regional branches and four volunteer-led special-interest groups, including groups focused on seabirds, raptors, photography and waders. Publications associated with its work include Australian Birdlife, Emu—Austral Ornithology and the long-running Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Its awards and fellowships recognise contributions to ornithology, research and conservation. Following the merger, BirdLife Australia reviewed its structure and finances in response to an operating deficit, declining net assets and the loss of federal grant income. It subsequently pursued a more diversified funding model involving philanthropy, supporter fundraising, corporate partnerships and social enterprise. In the post-COVID period it undertook a digital transformation involving a new website, rebranding and a Salesforce-based customer relationship system. Its 2022 Save Birds. Save Life. strategy set long-term goals to prevent human-driven bird extinctions by 2032, improve the status of at least 30 percent of threatened bird species by that year and halt overall bird declines by 2050. In 2025, it released AVISTEP, developed with BirdLife International, to help renewable-energy developers plan infrastructure with lower risks to birds and biodiversity.
History
BirdLife Australia's institutional history combines the development of Australia's organised bird observation movement with the consolidation of national conservation advocacy. Birds Australia, formerly the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union, developed major monitoring, research and publishing activities, including the Atlas of Australian Birds and the scientific journal Emu. Bird Observation and Conservation Australia, commonly known as BOCA, was another established Australian conservation organisation with its own members, branches and programs. By 2011, both organisations supported the creation of a single national body with greater capacity to represent birds in conservation policy and international partnerships. At simultaneous annual general meetings on 21 May 2011, members of Birds Australia and BOCA approved the merger. More than 93 percent of participating BOCA voters and more than 95 percent of participating Birds Australia voters supported the proposal. A total of 4,517 members voted. A constitution was drafted in May 2011, and the merged company began operating as BirdLife Australia on 1 January 2012. The merger also made BirdLife Australia the Australian partner of BirdLife International, replacing Birds Australia's previous role. The first board combined five directors from each predecessor organisation and appointed Gerard Early as a neutral chair. The new organisation experienced leadership change early in its existence. Inaugural CEO Graeme Hamilton resigned in October 2012, James O'Connor served as interim CEO, and Paul Sullivan was appointed in January 2013. BirdLife Australia then undertook an organisational review after recording an operating deficit, declining net assets and the loss of approximately $1.9 million per year in federal grant support associated with changes to the Caring for Country and Biodiversity Fund programs. The response included a new five-year strategy, a financing plan and a restructure intended to align the merged organisation around common conservation objectives. The organisation increasingly sought philanthropic support, individual donations, corporate partnerships and social-enterprise income, a shift that attracted criticism from some members concerned about the changing funding model. Its conservation work also broadened after the merger. Rather than concentrating mainly on individual species projects, BirdLife Australia developed landscape-scale programs linking research, habitat management, monitoring, advocacy and public participation. These included woodland birds, migratory shorebirds, beach-nesting birds, birds on farms, urban birds, Key Biodiversity Areas and threatened mallee birds. A major bushfire in Ngarkat Conservation Park in 2014, which eliminated the local South Australian population of the Mallee Emu-wren, prompted an emergency summit and helped produce a collaborative, cross-border action plan for threatened mallee species. Citizen science became a defining part of the organisation's operating model. BirdLife Australia's historical atlas work relied on structured field surveys, while Birdata, created in 2005 and relaunched with a smartphone application in 2016, expanded volunteer access to data submission. The 2014 Aussie Bird Count provided a highly accessible urban and household entry point. Bird observations now support national indicators, threatened-bird assessments, fire-response planning and conservation-area monitoring. The organisation's Action Plan for Australian Birds 2020, produced with Charles Darwin University, recorded an increase in the number of recognised threatened Australian bird species compared with the preceding assessment period. BirdLife Australia has continued to combine national coordination with local participation. It operates more than 30 regional branches and four special-interest groups, while owning or managing conservation reserves and supporting observatories. After COVID-19 it invested in digital infrastructure, including a new website, rebranding and a Salesforce-based supporter and fundraising system. The 2022 Save Birds. Save Life. strategy placed these activities within a longer-term framework aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. In 2023, Kate Millar became CEO and Mandy Bamford became president. In 2025, the organisation and BirdLife International released AVISTEP, extending its conservation role into planning guidance for renewable-energy development.
- 2025
AVISTEP released
[1]A renewable-energy siting and risk tool was launched with BirdLife International to support safer infrastructure planning.
- 2023
New chief executive and president
[1]Kate Millar was appointed CEO and Mandy Bamford was elected president.
- 2022
Save Birds. Save Life. strategy launched
[1]BirdLife Australia set 2032 and 2050 targets for threatened-bird recovery and reversing overall declines.
- 2020
Martine Maron becomes president
[1]Environmental scientist Martine Maron succeeded John Barkla as president.
- 2017
John Barkla becomes president
[1]Former BOCA president John Barkla was elected to lead the organisation's board.
- 2016
Birdata smartphone access expanded
[1]The Birdata platform was relaunched with a mobile application for volunteer observations.
- 2014
Aussie Bird Count introduced
[1]The national citizen-science survey was launched to involve the public in bird monitoring.
- 2012
BirdLife Australia commences operations
[1]The merged company began operating and assumed Australia's national partnership role with BirdLife International.
- 2011
Merger approved
[1]Members of Birds Australia and BOCA approved the creation of a unified national bird-conservation organisation.
Products and positioning
A science-led, member-supported national conservation organisation focused specifically on Australian birds, combining professional conservation programs with large-scale volunteer participation and public advocacy.
Citizen science · 2014
Aussie Bird Count
A national public survey in which participants record birds observed around homes and other accessible locations. It provides an approachable way for non-specialists to contribute to national monitoring while encouraging familiarity with urban and suburban birdlife.
Biodiversity data platform · 2005
Birdata
BirdLife Australia's online and mobile observation platform supports structured bird surveys and volunteer data entry. Records contribute to conservation planning, population assessment, Key Biodiversity Area monitoring and reporting on environmental change.
Conservation reserve
Gluepot Reserve
A 540-square-kilometre conservation reserve in South Australia's semi-arid mallee country. BirdLife Australia operates the reserve as a site for habitat protection, bird research, monitoring and conservation management.
Magazine · 2012
Australian Birdlife
BirdLife Australia's member and supporter magazine, which succeeded the predecessor organisations' Bird Observer and Wingspan publications and communicates bird science, conservation and field activities.
Environmental planning tool · 2025
AVISTEP
A risk-based planning tool developed with BirdLife International to help renewable-energy proponents identify and manage potential risks to birds and biodiversity when planning and operating infrastructure.
Marketing campaigns
- 2022Save Birds. Save Life.
Australia
A long-term conservation strategy addressing human-driven extinction, threatened-species recovery and broad bird-population decline.
Outcome. Set targets to prevent human-driven bird extinctions by 2032, improve at least 30 percent of threatened species by 2032 and halt overall declines by 2050.
- 2014Aussie Bird Count
Australia
A mass-participation survey invited people across Australia to count birds in their local surroundings, linking public engagement with national conservation monitoring.
Outcome. Established a major public-facing citizen-science pathway and generated structured observations for conservation use.
- 2014Key Biodiversity Areas in Danger
Australia · International
A public campaign highlighted important bird habitats facing pressure and sought support for their protection.
Outcome. The campaign reportedly reached 8.4 million people and helped mobilise attention around threatened habitat.
Brand decisions
2025
Release AVISTEPProduct launchBackground
Rapid renewable-energy development created a need for planning tools that account for bird and biodiversity risks.
Action taken
BirdLife Australia partnered with BirdLife International to release AVISTEP, a risk-based tool for renewable-energy planning and operation.
Aftermath
The tool extended BirdLife Australia's conservation role into practical guidance for infrastructure developers and planners.
2022
Adopt the Save Birds. Save Life. conservation strategyStrategyBackground
BirdLife Australia identified systemic drivers of biodiversity loss and aligned its planning with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Action taken
It established 2032 goals for extinction prevention and threatened-species improvement, together with a 2050 goal to halt overall bird declines.
Aftermath
The strategy became the framework for subsequent conservation programs and partnerships, including work on renewable-energy impacts.
2013
Restructure and diversify fundingStrategyBackground
Following the merger, BirdLife Australia faced an operating deficit, reduced net assets and the loss of substantial federal grant support.
Action taken
It adopted a five-year strategy and financing plan, reorganised activities and increased emphasis on philanthropy, supporter fundraising, corporate partnerships and social enterprise.
Aftermath
The shift reduced reliance on government grants but drew criticism from some members over the organisation's changing funding model.
Recent events
- 2025
AVISTEP tool released for renewable-energy planning[1]
Product launch · Regulation
BirdLife Australia and BirdLife International released a risk-based tool intended to help renewable-energy projects reduce risks to birds and nature.
- 2023
Kate Millar appointed chief executive[1]
Leadership change
Kate Millar became chief executive and Mandy Bamford was elected president.
- 2022
BirdLife Australia launches Save Birds. Save Life. strategy[1]
Other
The organisation published a strategy targeting extinction prevention, recovery of threatened species and a long-term reversal of bird declines.
- 2014
Aussie Bird Count launches[1]
Campaign · Product launch
BirdLife Australia introduced a national mass-participation bird survey to connect household observation with conservation data and engagement.
- 2014
Key Biodiversity Areas in Danger campaign[1]
Campaign
The campaign promoted protection of important bird habitat and reportedly reached millions of people.
- 2012
BirdLife Australia begins operations[1]
M&A · Other
The merged organisation commenced operations and became Australia's national BirdLife International partner.
- 2012
CEO Graeme Hamilton resigns[1]
Leadership change
The inaugural chief executive departed in October, after which James O'Connor served as interim CEO.
- 2011
Birds Australia and BOCA members approve merger[1]
M&A
Members of both organisations voted by large majorities to establish a unified national bird-conservation body.
Sources2 sources
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